Between the beginning and end of the sixth inning Sunday towards the Boston Red Sox, greater than two hours had transpired. It had begun with a thunderous solo shot from second baseman Rougned Odor and continued with a prolonged rain delay. But when the Orioles retook the sector at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, not one of the offensive eruptions had been dampened by the wait nor the climate.
It bought extreme sufficient that the Red Sox turned to catcher Kevin Plawecki to eat innings on the mound, winding down the ultimate moments of Baltimore’s series-clinching 9-5 victory. But for an offense that has struggled to publish crooked numbers, the manufacturing in that sixth inning and past was encouraging. The 9 runs are probably the most the Orioles have scored this season, and it gave greater than sufficient assist for a pitching employees that when once more excelled.
Baltimore’s bullpen threw 10 2/3 scoreless innings within the sequence earlier than J.D. Martinez’s late grand slam off right-hander Travis Lakins Sr within the ninth. And right-hander Jordan Lyles stored Boston off steadiness, dancing out of hassle all through his six innings — an look that concluded earlier than the rain delay muddled the center innings, even when it didn’t waterlog the bats.
After utilizing six relievers in Saturday’s 10-inning win, supervisor Brandon Hyde hoped to trip Lyles deep into Sunday’s sequence finale. That’s a lot of the explanation the Orioles signed the right-hander this offseason — he threw a career-high 180 innings final 12 months — however with a shortened spring coaching, Lyles hasn’t gone as deep into video games as he’d like.
Before Sunday, his longest outing this season had been 5 1/3 innings, and Lyles managed 4 2/3 frames towards the New York Yankees in his earlier look. But regardless of visitors on the bases early and infrequently — the Red Sox had 9 baserunners by way of 4 innings — it wasn’t till a leadoff double within the fifth when Lyles lastly cracked.
Shortstop Xander Bogaerts jumped on a first-pitch fastball that cut up that left-center hole, and two batters later, first baseman Franchy Cordero drove him in with a sacrifice fly. But that may be the lone harm towards Lyles, although he allowed seven hits, hit a batter and walked three extra. He gutted by way of six innings on a season-high 101 pitches, offering some aid to a bullpen that underwent heavy use Saturday.
Earlier this week towards the Yankees, Lyles bemoaned his slider utilization. He didn’t draw many swings and left it over the plate for a 118.8 mph single from Giancarlo Stanton. His slider performed higher Sunday, nonetheless, inducing 5 whiffs. He threw it greater than some other pitch, and the toughest contact off it was 84.8 mph.
Behind him, the Orioles’ backside of the order awoke. Infielders Odor, Ramón Urías and Tyler Nevin mixed to hit 1-for-22 within the first two video games of the sequence, however the trio collaborated for a breakout fifth inning — Odor singled, Urías doubled and Nevin drove each runners in with a single. Later within the body, proper fielder Anthony Santander was robbed of a grand slam by the brand new left area wall, together with his drive flying 378 ft for a sacrifice fly.
Odor added a solo shot within the sixth earlier than the Orioles teed off on Red Sox reliever Phillips Valdez following the delay. Jorge Mateo, Ryan Mountcastle and Santander drove in 5 runs, pushing the series-clinching victory out of attain.
Roster cutdowns looming
After Sunday’s sport, Hyde and the Orioles’ mind belief will meet to debate how the roster will look shifting ahead. The expanded 28-man roster, put in place for the opening month to assist alleviate any impacts of a shortened spring coaching, is being diminished to 26 starting Monday.
That provides strain to a number of the fringe gamers, who discover themselves in a state of affairs mirroring late spring coaching. Odor, for example, entered Sunday hitting .180 with 4 errors. But his lefty bat is effective, and a solo homer within the sixth inning may assist extend his time in Baltimore — notably as infielder Chris Owings is batting .111.
Nevin could possibly be one other candidate to return to Triple-A Norfolk. But Nevin, known as up this week, provides versatility within the area. In three video games, he’s performed third base, first base and designated hitter. He can function in both nook outfield spot, too.
He hit .364 for the Tides earlier than his call-up and made a diving play at first base. His two-run single drove in Baltimore’s first two runs. Plays like these may hold Nevin round rather than third baseman Kelvin Gutiérrez, who’s hitting simply .148.
With longer begins from starters, Hyde may really feel extra comfy dropping to 13 pitchers, although groups can carry 14 by way of the tip of May. With one other grand slam off Lakins, he could possibly be a candidate for departure.
But regardless of the configuration, two gamers will should be faraway from the energetic roster earlier than Monday’s sport towards the Minnesota Twins.
Injury updates
Left-handed reliever Alex Wells will miss the subsequent eight to 12 weeks as he recovers from a grade one UCL pressure in his elbow, Hyde mentioned. Wells gained’t require surgical procedure, as a substitute receiving remedy and present process rehab in Sarasota, Florida.
Wells threw 3 2/3 innings for Baltimore this season earlier than his setback, permitting 5 hits and two runs. Right-hander Dean Kremer, who has missed three weeks on account of an indirect harm, threw a bullpen session Saturday in Florida as he nears a return.
For the second straight day, first baseman Trey Mancini was out of the lineup on account of rib soreness, however Hyde mentioned he felt higher Sunday and will have been out there off the bench. In his place, Nevin bought the beginning at first base.
TWINS@ORIOLES
Monday, 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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Source: www.bostonherald.com